The beautiful thing about weddings is that they celebrate the love between two incredible people. What better way to share that happiness than with wedding favors that guests can savor and enjoy? If you want to add a pinch of fun and a dash of deliciousness to your big day, read on! Here are some tips to ensure your wedding favors are not only memorable but also irresistibly edible.

1. Personalize Your Packaging

Presentation matters, especially when it comes to edible wedding favors. Personalized packaging can turn a simple treat into a cherished keepsake. Consider using custom labels, ribbons, or tags with your names and wedding date. A beautifully wrapped favor can make a delightful first impression and set the tone for what’s inside.

These personalized water bottle labels are clearly from a birthday, but could easily be made for a wedding as well with a classy photo and some pretty script font with the bride and grooms names and date. Can’t you picture it?

2. Think About Variety

Variety is the spice of life, so why not offer a selection of treats for your guests? You could create a mini dessert bar with an assortment of cookies, chocolates, and candies. Having more than one or two options allows guests to pick their favorites and adds an element of fun to your wedding reception.

3. Keep Dietary Restrictions in Mind

When planning your edible favors, it’s essential to consider your guests’ dietary restrictions. Offering gluten-free, vegan, or nut-free options ensures everyone can enjoy the treats without worry. Clearly labeling each favor will also help guests identify what they can safely consume.

4. Incorporate Local Flavors

Showcase local flavors and specialties as part of your wedding favors. This supports local businesses and adds a unique touch to your celebration. Whether it’s local jam, honey, or artisanal chocolates, incorporating regional delights can make your small gifts stand out.

5. DIY Favors for a Personal Touch

Why not add a bit of DIY charm to your wedding favors? Homemade treats like cookies, jams, or even mini loaves of bread can add a personal touch that store-bought items simply can’t match. Plus, making these items can be a fun pre-wedding activity to share with your bridal party.

6. Make an Interactive Station

Adding an interactive element to your edible favors can make them even more enjoyable. Consider setting up a DIY candy station where guests can mix in their favorite sweets. Alternatively, you could provide ingredients and instructions for a simple recipe, such as a cookie mix in a jar, for guests to take home and bake.

7. Offer Sustainable and Thoughtful Options

In today’s world, sustainability is vital. Why not make your wedding favors sustainable while also making them fun and edible? Consider methods like curating tea combinations with honey to provide fun, personal, and sustainable favors that are also edible. Packaging these in reusable or biodegradable containers can further enhance their eco-friendliness.

Fun and Delicious Wedding Favors

Your wedding favors are an opportunity to thank your guests for bringing more joy to your special day by attending. Now that you know how to make your wedding favors fun (and edible), now is the time to get crafty and leave a lasting impression. Choosing to be thoughtful in your wedding favor creation process shows the love and time you put into treats everyone will love. So go ahead and sprinkle some fun and flavor into your wedding day!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

The post How To Make Your Wedding Favors Fun (and Edible) appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Hosting an at-home party brings joy, laughter, and a bit of a mess. Okay, it usually brings a lot of a mess! But who says you need to accept the aftermath chaos as part of the fun?

Instead, use these tips for making at-home parties not so messy, leaving more room for joy and less for cleanup.

Plan Your Menu Wisely

Some foods are easier to eat than others, so selecting the right kind of party food can significantly cut down on mess. Choose finger foods or single-serve dishes that guests can easily manage without juggling between multiple utensils.

Create an Effective Trash and Recycling Station

Guests won’t throw stuff away if they don’t know where to do so. Set up clearly marked trash and recycling stations in multiple, easy-to-spot locations around your party area. Encouraging guests to dispose of their waste promptly prevents clutter and makes the end-of-night cleanup a breeze.

Use Disposable Tableware

Yes, using disposable plates, cups, and utensils might seem less elegant, but you can still maintain a chic look without the hassle of washing dishes. This is a game-changer in keeping your party mess to a minimum.

Disposable Doesn’t Mean Not Eco-Friendly

Choose dishware in biodegradable materials, such as paper and bioplastic, to make sure your easy-breezy cleanup doesn’t come at the cost of the planet.

Consider Outdoor Solutions like Trailer Restrooms

For larger gatherings, consider renting trailer restrooms. This reduces traffic in your home and prevents bathroom-related messes and accidents that you would have to clean up. If you know what to look for in a restroom trailer company, you can get high-end options that offer a touch of luxury to your outdoor party while keeping the inside of your home pristine.

Wrapping Up

Throwing an at-home party doesn’t have to leave you with an overwhelming mess. Use these tips for making at-home parties not so messy. You’ll impress your guests with your organization and creativity and give yourself the gift of enjoying your own party with minimal stress over the cleanup.

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

The post Tips for Making At-Home Parties Not so Messy appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Imagine transforming your backyard into a carnival of laughter, with the kids running round and playing all day. Throwing a backyard party full of DIY outdoor games will be the center of unforgettable memories for your kids, grandkiddos, and their friends. All you need is a bit of crafty inspiration to put your creativity to good use.

Obstacle Course

Get creative and construct a custom obstacle course! Bring your grandkids’ favorite movie or TV show to life, or conjure a world where the kids have to save the medieval castle from the dragon.

Decoupage cardboard boxes for a tunnel the kids must crawl through. Spray paint cones that match the theme. Use a blanket to represent a river the kids must jump over. There are endless possibilities to customize a fun obstacle course.

Giant Tic-Tac-Toe

Turning one of the oldest and most universally known games into a giant outdoor version brings an exciting twist to any backyard party. Giant Tic-Tac-Toe keeps the simplicity and strategy of the traditional game but scales it up for more interactive fun.

Use nine hula-hoops or large fabric squares to construct the grid. Then, find the designated items that’ll act as Xs and Os. It could be anything from painted plastic plates to beach balls with different patterns.

You can also set up the game as a tournament for the kids. Every win will take them further to the championship and a grand prize.

Gaga Ball

Gaga Ball is a fast-paced, high-energy game that’s like a friendlier version of dodgeball. Players confined to a pit must hit a small ball at or below their opponents’ knees to eliminate them from the game.

People don’t adore the sport solely because of the physical and mental benefits of Gaga Ball. It’s especially favorable because it’s easy to set up on your own!

The plastic barriers are simple and safe to arrange on grass, concrete, or plush mats. All you need next is a soft foam ball and some spirited players.

Tarp Toss

Tarp toss is a homemade spin on classic carnival games. Players stand at a designated distance from the tarp and take turns throwing bean bags or balls through the cutouts to score points. Your job is to create the game board.

Begin by cutting shapes (circles, squares, triangles) into your tarp to serve as the targets. Around each cutout, use a permanent marker to assign point values based on the difficulty. Secure the tarp between trees or wooden posts using ropes or bungee cords.

The last thing you’ll need is bean bags for the kids to toss. This game is a bit of a challenge, but it’s also thrilling since the kids get to test their aim and accuracy.

Never let a backyard party for kids be boring ever again! Creating any of these DIY outdoor games for your backyard party will keep the kiddos excited and telling everyone at school how they had the best party EVER!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

The post 4 Outdoor Games You Can DIY for a Backyard Party appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Giving thank-you cards is a timeless act of courtesy that has been around for a long time. In a world where almost everything is digital, sending a tangible thank-you card is often the best way to show your appreciation in an extra-special way. But when it comes to thank-you cards, knowing what wording and etiquette to use can be daunting, especially if you’ve never sent one before!

With this ultimate guide to thank-you card etiquette, you no longer have to stress about this. We’ll provide all the resources and tips you need to write your next thank-you note. With this helpful guide in hand, saying thanks will be much easier!

The Right Card for the Occasion

Selecting an appropriate thank-you card is essential to convey your gratitude properly. Choose a classic, elegant design for formal events like weddings, graduations, or funerals. For more casual affairs, such as baby showers or birthday parties, you may select a themed card that reflects the event. Ultimately, your card style should match the tone and personality of the person you’re giving it to.

Crafting the Perfect Message

When you’re ready to write your note, start by using the recipient’s proper title (Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.) followed by their last name. If you have a close relationship, using their first name is okay. Begin with a sincere expression of thankfulness and specifically mention the gift, service, or act of kindness you receive from them. Then, explain how you plan to use the gift or why their assistance was valuable.

To add a personal touch, spruce up your thank-you cards with ribbon and other cute embellishments. Share a detail that connects your shared experience or an inside joke. This not only makes the recipient feel special but also demonstrates that you’ve put thought and effort into your message.

Addressing and Mailing Your Card

Proper addressing and timely mailing are vital in thank-you card etiquette. Handwrite the name and address of the recipient on the front of the envelope with their proper title. Additionally, you should write your return address on the envelope or use a custom return address label.

Ideally, you want to send thank-you cards within one to two weeks after receiving a gift or attending an event. For events like weddings, you have a bit more leeway; you can wait up to about three months. However, remember that sending a card late is better than not at all. Plus, a surprise thank-you note down the road can serve as a sweet reminder of your gratitude.

A Tip on Thank-You Card Etiquette for Recipients

Lastly, if you receive a thank-you card yourself, you should acknowledge the sender. It’s a nice gesture. A quick phone call, text, or social media message can let them know you value their time and effort.

Sending thank-you cards is an essential aspect of expressing gratitude. Use this ultimate guide to thank-you card etiquette to ensure your cards make a lasting, positive impression on your recipients.

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

The post Your Ultimate Guide to Thank-You Card Etiquette appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

As fabulous as birthday parties can be for friends and family, they are always super stressful as well. Making sure the parties go off with a bang is a lot of work upfront. So, what does it take to ensure that you can cope with the challenges of organizing a birthday party? Here’s a few tips that I swear by!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Start as Soon as Possible

Lots of people wait until the last moment to prepare for a massive birthday party. Worst. Idea. Ever. Trust me! Party planning is one of THE most stressful jobs, so if you wanna pull this off you better not rush. One of the biggest mistakes many people make, especially those attending the birthday party, is that last-minute rush to get something. This goes for those attending the party too, you don’t want to be struggling to find the right birthday cards or locate the right presents and it’s far better to leave yourself plenty of extra time. When we get started as soon as possible, it allows us that breathing space. 

It also means you can take advantage of early bird discounts and deals if you are looking to book venues or services. One of the biggest reasons we procrastinate is because we underestimate just how much is involved, but when we get started planning details, there are a number of different things that we must keep track of, and the overwhelm sets in. Start early, and you will not regret it. I have a fabulous Party Planning checklist to help out with just this thing!

Set Realistic Expectations

As far as planning a party is concerned, we want to give our kids or loved ones the event they deserve, but it’s so important to manage expectations, especially when it comes to the budget. Make a list of all the expenses that you expect, whether it’s decorations, entertainment, drinks, and so forth, and then you need to prioritize them based on your preferences. When it comes to an event like a party, there are so many things that we can splurge on, but if you’re like me, then you want to save a buck everywhere you can.

There are PLENTY of ways to save money, but my fave is making our own invitations and baking our own cakes. It also helps to borrow items from friends or family when you can. I’ll never forget when I saved $100 bucks on table and chairs by recruiting friends and family to bring some before the party. It’s so important that before you start letting your finances run away with you, you find a realistic balance.

Don’t Stress Over Every Little Thing

One of the biggest issues we have in planning a perfect party is that we think it’s got to be perfect. Things will never go exactly as planned, and we should be prepared to adapt or improvise if something changes at the last minute. “Done is better then perfect”, is my motto! You may think it’s ideal to have an outdoor party, but if the weather goes bad, you will need to have a backup plan to take everything inside. The same goes if there are extra guests that turn up unannounced (this almost always happens). Having some extra food and drinks available, or at least be prepared to run out in hot second, it will make a big difference. And don’t forget about spillages, it’s always worth having enough cleaning equipment on hand to counteract the damage, especially with kids!

My point it is that you’ve got to be adaptable and stop stressing over every little thing, or else you’ll drive yourself cray After all, the party will be over and done within a matter of hours, so is it worth obsessing over? (Don’t answer that LOL!)

Learn the Art of Delegation

Delegating is one of those things that we need to learn as soon as possible. This is especially true when it comes to planning and preparing for a birthday party. We think that we need to have control over every little thing, but it is going to make for a far more stress-free time when you ask for help from friends or family members who are willing to get involved. Throughout the course of the party, there’s always going to be people asking if they can help, and I know it may feel awkward to accept the help, but take advantage of it. People are HAPPY to to help and a little bit of help form various people can add up to BIG help.

You can also delegate to family members during the planning process, even before the party has started. You could ask people to help set up, pick up supplies, or send out invitations. There is a lot a lot to do when trying to get a party ready, and if we’re feeling the pressure weeks before the big day, this is where delegating will always make life easier. It also allows you to focus on the things that only YOU can do (like DIY those decorations!). When planning ahead it’s important to make sure you have a complete list of things to do, but also a list of people that can do these things, will always make life easier for you.

Think About Guests Unique Needs

This is something that we’ve all got to consider these days because there are a lot of children with nut allergies and specific dietary needs. There’s also, of course, the potential for accessibility issues. If one of your child’s friends has a wheelchair, they’re going to need to get into the venue, and it’s important to make sure that the venue is wheelchair-friendly or, at the very least, accessible for them. It’s important to make sure that nobody feels excluded, and it can be so tough when we have young kids who feel singled out already because they’ve got allergies and can’t have a specific type of food or birthday cake. Asking parents ahead of time is key when planning the menu and the venue for your party.

Lots of parents don’t think about dietary requirements until the very last second because they don’t have any dietary needs themselves. It’s one of those little things, but it’s such a small touch that will make the biggest difference.

Prioritize Fun!

It sounds very simple, but a birthday party is meant to be a celebration rather than a chore (sometimes we forget this when in the planning phase). There’s a lot you need to think about to make sure the event goes off without a hitch, but don’t forget to have FUN. Yes, planning a party can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself and stop worrying about what others expect of you. There’s a lot of pressure in doing kids’ birthday parties because you may feel like you need to better than the party that Suzie had. Or heck, better than your LAST party! The fact is that when it comes to planning a party for our kids, this can be a very stressful thing that happens every single year. The reality is that they are only going to remember the amazing memories you made for them!

When your kids are young enough, all they want to do is have fun, and as simple as this sounds, if you start party planning with this very basic idea in mind, you will be surprised how effortless it can all be. Yes, we can have worries about finances, diets, themes, and so forth, but that’s not what’s truly important, it’s the memories that we make!

If you’re stressing out about planning your next party, than you need my FREE Party Planning Checklist so you can plan and organize*all the things*! When you sign up for the party planning checklist, I’ll also send you lot’s of fun, easy, and budget friendly ideas for your next party too!

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

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Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love these Birthday Party Planning tips? Make sure to PIN it for later!

The post Making Sure Birthday Party Planning Doesn’t Get to You appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Are you planning a Hawaiian Luau or a Pineapple themed birthday party? Than you need this DIY Pineapple Lollipop hack in your life! These sweet treat party favors are cute, practical, and they’ll save you quite a few bucks over buying them pre-made. Aloha!

Planning a party can be fun, but it can also be super stressful and a lot expensive. So any tips, tricks, and hacks to simplify the process and save a buck are more than needed! That’s where theses DIY Pineapple Lollipop favors come in.

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My Twins just had their Birthday and we did a 10th Birthday Hawaiian Luau to celebrate. Being the crafty girl I am, I DIY’d many of the decorations, including this Pineapple Piñata, but there are just certain things I’d prefer to buy and not make.

While scouring the web for Luau and Pineapple themed favors I came across these Pineapple Lollipops on Etsy, that were pretty darn cute, but the problem?! They’re $29.99 for just TWELVE lollipops! That’s literally insane.

So of course I decided to DIY these too! My version will run you a whopping $7, and the best part? You get 16 Pineapple Lollipops instead of 12! It all starts with these simple generic round swirl lollipops.

Aloha, it’s a Luau! Make sure to check out the the details to the entire Hawaiian Pineapple party coming soon!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies Needed to Make a DIY Pineapple Lollipop Party Favors

• Round Sweet Swirl Lollipops (I got mine from Walmart in the party section for $5-much cheaper than Amazon)
• Yellow cardstock or poster board
• Green glitter foam paper
• 2″ Circular punch (not required but makes this SO much easier and neater)
• Glue

How to Turn Regular Lollipops into Pineapple lollipops

Follow the below super easy steps to make DIY Pineapple Lollipops for your next Hawaiian Luau.

How easy and adorbs are these? You can even get the kiddos to help out with this one. In about 30 minutes, you can whip up the whole batch of 16 of these. I stuck them right back into the plastic container they came in, and slapped an extra one of the personalized Luau water bottle labels that I bought around the center!

The DIY Pineapple Lollipops were the perfect compliment to the other Luau party favors and the kiddos just loved the personalized Mini Sanitizer and Chapsticks!

If you’ve got a million projects on your crafting ‘to-do’ list like I do, than you need my FREE Craft Project Planner so you can plan to make *all the things*! When you sign up for the craft planner, I’ll also send you lot’s of fun, easy, and budget friendly ideas for you to fill it up with!

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love these DIY Pineapple Lollipops? Make sure to PIN it for later!

The post DIY Pineapple Lollipops appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

If you’re planning a Hawaiian Luau Party, or even a Pineapple themed birthday party, than a DIY Pineapple Piñata is an absolute must. The only problem is that Piñatas can be super expensive and if you’re like me, you’re on a budget. So instead of buying your Piñata for next party, I’ll show you how to make a DIY one for virtually free, all you need is a few supplies and a little time!

I am known for DIY’ing the heck out of my Twins birthday parties but it wasn’t until recent years that I began DIY’ing the Pinatas too!. First it was the Pinata for their 8th YouTube birthday party. The YouTube logo is fairly simple, a square, so I gave it a go and it was a huge success! I decided to take it a step further last year and challenge myself to their 9th Super Sonic the Hedgehog birthday piñata.

Stressed about planning your party?

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From the looks of it, you’d think a piñata is super complicated to make right? It’s not! It is actually pretty easy, but it does take a good bit of time. But for the going rate of $50+ for a (small) piñata, I’ll spend the few hours to make one. Especially because the supplies needed to make it cost, drum roll please……$2! So when you do buy one, you’re definitely paying for the time, not supplies.

This DIY Pineapple Piñata actually would have been free, because I already had the cardboard, glue, crepe paper, and card stock, but I didn’t have the darn masking tape, so to Walmart I went.

If you’re planning a Hawaiian Luau party, or simply a Summer Pineapple party, than this Cool-dude Pineapple Piñata will surely be a hit with all the kiddos. Not to mention it’ll be a hit with your bank account too. If you’re down to DIY some other things for your Hawaiian Pineapple Luau to save a buck or two, this Pineapple Lollipop hack (*coming soon) is an easy and good one too!

Aloha, it’s a Luau! Make sure to check out the the details to the entire Hawaiian Pineapple party coming soon!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies Needed to Make a DIY Pineapple Piñata

1. Large cardboard box
2. Masking tape
3. Yellow Crepe paper streamers
4. Glue stick
5. Green glitter foam paper
6. Black poster board or cardstock (Optional for mouth and sunglasses)
7. Umbrella pic (Optional)
8. Habiscus flower (Optional)
9. Box cutter

How to make a Pineapple Piñata for your Birthday or Hawaiian Luau Party

Follow the below easy steps to DIY your very own Pineapple piñata with Sunglasses and save a ton money in the process.

Draw the outline of the front of the Pineapple onto the cardboard and cut it out using a box cutter.

Just do your best here. It doesn’t have to be a perfect Pineapple shape. Once you get it all decorated, you won’t even be able to tell!

Draw the outline of the Pineapple Crown onto cardboard, and cut out using a box cutter.

Be so super careful here, please! Those suckers are sharp!

Trace the outline of the Pineapple you just cut out onto another piece of cardboard and cut that out

It’s super important to trace the first one you cut out and not freehand a second one, otherwise your Pineapple will be uneven making it really hard to tape together into a 3D shape.

Cut a 5″-6″ wide strip of cardboard for the middle of the Pineapple piñata

It’s ok if you don’t cut this in all one long strip, you can do it in smaller sections if you don’t have cardboard large enough. Just cut out as long as a piece as you can, and as you go around the outline taping it, you may need to cut more to finish it up.

Corrugated cardboard works best for this since it’s bendy, but if you don’t have it you can bend, fold, and mold the cardboard to get it how you need it. Basically wear it down so that it’s super floppy and malleable, making it easier to work with in the next step.

Stressed about planning your party?

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Begin to shape the long, bendy cardboard piece around the outline of the Pineapple, securing with masking tape every 1-2 inches.

Place the backside of the Pineapple outline on top and secure with masking tape every 1-2 inches

It should be starting to look like a 3D Pineapple shape, like this!

Cut a small flap/opening for candy in the top of the middle cardboard piece, and poke 2 holes for string to hang

Cut a whole bunch of strips of yellow crepe paper streamers, some long enough to cover the front/back, and some shorter to cover the sides

Roughly measure out a bunch of strips that are longer then the length of the pinata, and cut fringes along the edges. Don’t worry about the length being exact, we’ll trim that all up later.

Use scissors to cut fringe all along each strip of crepe paper

Alternatively, you could cut the fringes after gluing them to the cardboard. I did one side each way, and I didn’t find one way to be easier than the other.

Glue the strips of yellow crepe paper across the front of the Pineapple, starting from the bottom and working your way up, overlapping them just a bit.

I found the best way to do this was to cover 6 inches of the cardboard with the glue, and then spread the crepe paper across leaving extra overhang. Don’t worry about the overhang, you will go around and trim it off nice and neat after. So just glue, and paper and cut, repeat. This does take a bit of time. You could also cut the fringe on the crepe paper after gluing it to the cardboard, but either way works!

Keep going….don’t worry about the overhang, were about to cut that off.

Trim the extra yellow crepe paper overhang from around the Pineapple outline

Repeat the same process for the back and the sides of the Pineapple Piñata

Use the cardboard Pineapple crown to trace onto the glitter foam paper, and glue to the top of the Pineapple

Cut out the green paper and glue to the front of the cardboard crown. Stick a few tooth picks into the bottom of the Pineapple Crown, and then stick them into the top of the Piñata, along with some hot glue to hold the crown in place.

Decorate the Piñata with Sunglasses and mouth

Draw the sunglasses and mouth onto black cardstock and cut them out. Use hot glue to attach to the front of the Piñata. Don’t let the word “draw” intimidate you! I have zero artistic drawing ability and I was able to pull this together. It doesn’t have to be perfect, look how crooked my sunglasses are….who cares!

If you want to be Extra like me, go ahead and add an umbrella pic and a flower to his crown.

You’re ready to fill that bad boy up with candy! Our favorite is the Mexican candy with Tamarindo and chamoy, YUM! If you don’t have a place to get that kind near you, trusty Amazon always has the huge candy bags. And don’t forget your Pinata blindfold and bat!

This DIY Pineapple Piñata is huge. Like, way too big. So don’t feel pressured to fill it allllll the way to the top or the top might break when you hang it, the string could pull right through the cardboard if it’s too heavy. Trust me, it’s happened! My twins always love filling this bad boy up!

Although this specific Piñata is made for a Hawaiian Luau party, the same concept can be applied to whatever theme you choose! Of course the shapes and colors and decorations will be different, but as long as the idea isn’t too complex it would be just as easy to make! We made a Sonic the Hedgehog Piñata last year that turned out great.

If you’re planning a Hawaiian Luau or a Pineapple party, you may want to check out the easy Pineapple Lollipops we made too (*blog post coming soon*) You’ll be able to read about the entire party soon.

Happy Hawaiian Pineapple Luau!!

If you’ve got a million projects on your crafting ‘to-do’ list like I do, than you need my FREE Craft Project Planner so you can plan to make *all the things*! When you sign up for the craft planner, I’ll also send you lot’s of fun, easy, and budget friendly ideas for you to fill it up with!

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this DIY Hawaiian Pineapple Piñata? Make sure to PIN it to your DIY Party board!

The post How to Make a DIY Pineapple Piñata appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

If you ‘re looking for a decorative tiered tray, but want something unique or specific to match you’re rustic decor, look no further! This DIY Rustic Wooden Round Tiered Tray looks like a million bucks, but can be made for just $40. Best of all, you can get every single supply that you need to make this right on Amazon! Run….Don’t walk to make this!

Believe it or not, I’m not the biggest fan of Tiered Tray’s (*gasp*). It’s not that I dislike them, it’s more that I tend to not like things that everrryooonneeeee else and and their mother likes. I like to be different, what can I say. So this DIY Rustic Wooden Tiered Tray idea was born.

Since I still really wanted some sort of tiered tray, I figured why not make one! This Rustic Wooden Tiered Tray is definitely not your average piece of decor, and if you decide to make this you’re sure to stand out from the crowd. I know, I know, I should have a photo of this bad boy all decorated in this post, but I just couldn’t wait to share it so they’ll be more pics of the tray all decorated *coming soon*!

When I was doing a bit of research for this type of tiered tray, I found that they sell on Etsy for $170!! Oh EM GeE! The supplies for this DIY Wooden Round Tray cost $40 total on Amazon, and only took about 30 min to make. So if you’re deciding whether to make or to buy, that’s a no brainer!

**More pics of fully decorated DIY Rustic Tiered Tray to come!**

Now if you wanted to stain the wooden rounds as well as the candlesticks, you could totally do that. Just learn from my mistake (you’ll see in the video), and make sure to prepare your wood first! I attempted to stain the rounds with Waverly Antique Wax and the wood soaked up the stain so much, even after wetting the wood with water, that it looked like it was painted black. If you decide to go this route, you will 100% want to use a Wood Conditioner on the rounds first.

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies Needed for a DIY Wooden Round Tiered Tray

• 7″ Wooden round (Med)
• 9″ Wooden Round (Large)
• 11″ Wooden round (X-Large)
• 6″ Raw wooden candlesticks (Pack of 2)
• E6000
• Waverly Antique Wax or Stain
• Wood Conditioner (optional if you choose to stain your wooden rounds)

How to Make a Rustic Wooden Tiered Tray

I made this Uh-maz-ing Wooden Round Rustic Tiered Tray on video, so you can WATCH the step by step tutorial HERE or right below.

Watch the video tutorial here.

I promise to update this post with pics of this beautiful Wooden Round Tiered Tray fully decorated as soon as I have them! I did an entire week of lemon themed tiered tray crafts, so I will definitely be throwing the Mini Pallet Burlap Lemon, as well as the Dollar Tree Lemon Napkin on there for Summer.

And for fall, it’s going to look fantabulous with little pumpkins and sunflowers, I just can’t wait! For now, here is the final tiered tray-naked.

Are you going to make this Rustic Wooden Tiered Tray? If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your completed DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations!

If you’ve got a million projects on your crafting ‘to-do’ list like I do, than you need my FREE Craft Project Planner so you can plan to make *all the things*! When you sign up for the craft planner, I’ll also send you lot’s of fun, easy, and budget friendly ideas for you to fill it up with!

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

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The post DIY Rustic Wooden Tiered Tray appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Turn a regular Dollar Tree Witch Hat into a glam decoration or centerpiece using extra craft supplies (a.k.a your craft stash) leftover from Halloween. This Witch Hat goes from drab to glam in just a few minutes and can double as a last minute DIY party costume as well!

Anyone that knows me, knows that I do not like to waste a single thing. Not a ribbon scrap. Not a drop of glue. And especially not an entire perfectly good Witch Hat. So What do I do? Put all my scraps together to make a Dollar Tree Glam Witch Hat!

This beauty would make a great centerpiece for the treat table at your Halloween Party, or even as a prettied up addition to your glam styled tablescape. If you are in pinch for a DIY costume, you could even leave out the buffalo snow, and wear it! You’d certainly be the “Good Witch”!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies Needed to Make a Glam Halloween Witch Hat from Dollar Tree

As I mentioned, the supplies I used came from my craft stash with the exception of the Witch Hat itself (which was a $1 Dollar Tree hat), but I’ll do my best to link to the closest thing that I can find on Amazon for your convenience. I encourage you to use whatever you have! Use different colors, or whatever matches your decor. Get creative and have fun.

• Witch Hat
• Buffalo Check 2″ ribbon
• Pink glitter with gold trim 2″ ribbon
• Mini foam pumpkins
• Mini silver glitter foam skulls
• Black acrylic paint
• Silver and/or gold tulle
• Pink tulle
• Faux black rose
• Glue gun
• Buffalo snow filler (the stuff inside stuffed animals – you could also use newspaper)
• Cardboard (you could use a cereal box, shoe box, anything will do)

How to Glam up a Dollar Tree Witch Hat

There is no real tried and true step-by-step way to do this, so I’ll just do my best to walk you through my creative process.

First, stuff the inside of the witch hat with buffalo snow so that the tip stands up straight.

Cut a piece of cardboard into a circle that is about the same size as the opening of the hat, and glue the cardboard to the bottom to keep the buffalo snow from falling out. *If you plan to wear this hat as a costume, you would of course skip this step.

Glue a long strip of the Pink and Gold glitter ribbon up and around the top portion of the witch hat. My piece was about 18″ long, but whatever you have will do!

Next, I took some more of the pink wired ribbon, and some buffalo check ribbon, and began to ruch it along the bottom part of the hat where the brim meets the top. Just kind of loop, and glue. Loop, and glue. Until you’re satisfied with the look.

Then you can add in some of the silver, pink, and gold tulle in between and around the ribbon. There is no exact science here, just get creative and play around with it until it’s all glammed up and beautified.

Now, take some of the mini foam pumpkins, and paint them all black. I painted 3, but you can do more or less for whatever strikes your fancy.

Glue a black faux rose head to the front. Then glue in the painted pumpkins and glitter skulls throughout the ribbon and tulle until you’re satisfied with the look.

Isn’t she a beauty!? How amazing is it that you can turn a boring $1 Dollar Tree Witch Hat, into a Glam Halloween centerpiece or decor!?

This glammed up masterpiece would be the perfect addition to your Halloween party for Ghouls, or a fun and affordable way to dress up without having to actually dress up.

For some more prettified and glam DIY Halloween decorations that aren’t your traditional Orange and Black, make sure to check out our other Dollar Tree DIY’s:

• Dollar Tree Rainbow Deco Mesh Witch Hat Wreath
• Dollar Tree Rainbow Pumpkin Topiary
• Dollar Tree Blinged Out Coffin Banner
• Dollar Tree Rainbow Ombre Painted Skull

I’d love to see how your Dollar Tree Glam Witch Hat turned out, so make sure to join my Craftspirational Facebook Group and share all of your creations!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this easy Dollar Tree DIY Glam Halloween Witch Hat? PIN it for later!

The post Dollar Tree Glam Halloween Witch Hat Makeover appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

This super cute and easy front door Mummy is perfect for an affordable last minute DIY for your Halloween party, or to decorate your home . Everything you need to make this Mummy door decor can be found at the Dollar Tree and put together in less than 5 minutes! Easy, fast, spooky, and fun!

Today I wanted to quickly share with you this last minute way to dress up your front door for Halloween for just $2! The Dollar Tree came out with these HUGE creepy googly eyes that I’d never seen available before, so I grabbed a pair knowing that I just had to make something with them!

They had a couple different options, a bloodshot eye like the one I grabbed, a regular ‘ole googly eye, and one other that had kind of green/black background with slits that reminded me of snake eyes. In hindsight, I wish I’d grabbed one of each. The fun possibilities for these jumbo eyes are endless and go far beyond this DIY Mummy Halloween Door Decor.

This spooky Mummy is the perfect way to greet guests walking up to the house for your Halloween Bash, while being cute enough to not scare them away! Make sure to check out all the other fun Halloween crafts we made, including a Pine Cone Mummy!

Ain’t he cute?

Supplies needed to make a Mummy Door for Halloween

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

As I mentioned, this is a $2 Dollar Tree DIY, but if you’re looking for convenience and not cost-Amazon is yo’ girl. I’ve linked to the closest items below.

• Creepy Cloth
• Jumbo googly eyes

How to Decorate Your Front Door to Look like a Mummy

Tape the jumbo googly eyes to the top half of the door, where ever you want the top of your Mummy to be.

Use tape or thumbtacks (depending on the material of your door) to hang the cloth lengthwise on the door.

Using the rips that are already in the creepy cloth, make tears around the eyes so that it looks as if they are peeking out from behind the creepy cloth.

That’s it, that’s all. 5 minutes and you’ve got a last minute DIY Mummy Door in place!

This quickie Dollar Tree Halloween decoration is a perfect last minute way to spook your guests at your Monster Bash, or to greet the upcoming Trick or Treaters on all Hallows Eve!

If you need some help planning your Halloween party, don’t forget to download our Party Planning Checklist below.

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Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this easy Dollar Tree DIY Mummy Door Halloween Decoration? PIN it for later!

The post DIY Dollar Tree Easy Mummy Door Halloween Decoration appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.